Scraper



March 24, 1925. 1,530,779

R. G. LE TOURNEAU SCRAPER Filed Jan. 12, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. R. G.Le Yburneau,

- I Q mlmiw ATTORNEY March 24, 1925.

R. G. LE TOURNEAU S CRAPER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 12, 1924 INVENTOR. R 6.110 Rat-Dem BY@ 3 S ATTORNEY March 24, 1925.

R. 6. LE TOURNEAU SCRAPER Filed Jan. 12. 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Q .xbm

ATTORNEY March 24, 1925.

R. G. LE TOUR EAU SCRAPBR Filed Jan. 12, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I INVENTOR. R 0. Le Tll'olzrnemt,

ATTORNEY Qywpbm Patented Mar. 24, 1925.

UNITED STATES: PATENT OFFER,

ROBERT G. LE TOURNEAU, O'F STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA SCRAPER.

Application filed January 12, 1924. Serial No. 685,751.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ROBERT G. LE TOUR- NEAU, a citizen of the United States, resid ing at Stockton, county of San I Joaquin, State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Scrapers; and I do declare the following to be a full,

clear, and exact. description of the same,

reference bemg had to the accompanylng drawings and to thecharacters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this application.

This invention relates, to improvements in dirt scraping and transportingdevices, the principal object of my invention being to provide a device of this character provided with a plurality of telescoping earthsupporting surfaces, arranged to be moved so that the uppermost and foremost snr-. face, when loaded, may be moved back with its load, exposing the next surface for loading, and so on until the entire structure if desired is loaded.

This construction enables a very large amount of dirt being scraped and carried with but a relatively small expenditure of power, since the main factor which-limits the size of the ordinary single-scoop scraper for practical purposes is the great resist-v ance offered to the loading of the dirt when bearing surfaces, and in such a manner that I the discharge of the load is under the perfect control of the operator, so that but little or all of the dirt may be deposited in one heap, or it may be distributed over a considerable area and at widely spaced points if desired.

A vide a self-propelled scraper, in which a highly desirable flexibility, of control and speed ofthe various working or driven further andimportant object is to pr0- members is had by providing electric power meansvfor controlling the steering and forward movement of the machine as a whole,

and the movements of the dirt-carrying surfaces mounted thereon.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims:

In the drawings similar characters of ref erence nd cate corresponding parts in the several views:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the complete apparatus. Fig. 2 is a scraping structure proper, showing the dirt-carrying surfaces fully extended.

Fig. 3 is a similar view, showing the position of dirt-carrying surfaces prior to the final expanding movement, or after the first contracting movementhas taken place. Fig. 4 1s a fragmentary side view of the longitudinal section of the scraper structure, with the dirt-carrying area fully contracted.

F1g. 5 1s a similar view, showing the position of the dirt-carrying surfaces after the first expanding movement has taken place, or prior to the finalcontracting movement.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the dirt carrying surfaces when the latter are fully telescoped.

Fig. 7 is a ture, the front supporting carriage being removed. I

Fig. 8 is a somewhat enlarged typical cross section of the scraper, foreshortened, showing a pair of telescoped load-carrying members. 1

Fig. 9 is a-frag'mentary detail showing a catch structure mountedfin connection with those supporting surfaces shown su perimposed in Fig. 3, the catch being disengaged. I

Fig. 10 is a similar view of the. same structure, showing the catch as engaged when the next supporting surface is moved forward to lie on those already superim-' posed. p

Referring now to the characters of reference on the drawings,el denotes the forward framework of the structure, supported bya pair of wheelsQ; and 3 is the rear main front view of the scraper strucframework of the scraping and load-carry.-

ing structure, sup orted adjacent'its rear end by a pair of w eels 4. I

The frame 1 is swivelly connected to the frame 3 by means of a centrally located vertive to each other, as when uneven ground is' encountered.

The sleeve and shaft are moved vertlcally at will, orheld in fixed positions relative to each other by means of a cable 8, the ends of which are wound on separate drums 9 mounted on the framework 3, passing thence up about pulleys 10 at the top of the shaft 6, then down about pulleys 11 connected to the sleeve 5 or frame 3, and thence upward and about a pulley 12 mounted in connection with the shaft 6 between the pulleys 10. The drums 9 are driven from a reversible electric motor 13 mounted on the framework 3, a suitable speed-reduction mechanism being interposed between the drums and motor. I

About the portion of the shaft 6 projecting below the sleeve 5 is fixed a collapsible sleeve 14, to protect the shaft from the adjacent dirt without interfering with its Vertical movement. r j 1 Mounted on the frame l'is a gas engine unit the front end of which is conventionally illustrated at 15 in Fig. 1. This engine drives a dynamo 16, of sufiicient capacity to provide current for running the motor'13, as well as the others hereinafter mentioned.

The engine and dynamo are so located on the frame 1, relative to the axis of the wheels 2 and the pivotalconnectionof the frame 3 therewith, as to counterbalance the weight supported by its rear end, thereby reducing the bending strains on the shaft- 6.

'.-- -The.' wheels 2peach has an electricmotor 17 to drive thesame, so that steering of the "machine maybe aided in the well known manner of stopping 'or-reversingone wheel while allowing the other one to turn.

.- .The rear wheels .4 are also preferably driven in the same manner byelect-memotormeans 18.

Steering of the structure apart from any i steering had by manipulation of the drivingv wheels, is provided for by arranging a cable 19 wrapped about a drum 20 mounted on the frame 3 adjacent the wheels thereof,

.said cable extending thence along the outside of the frame-3, to 1 connections with the opposite sides of the frame 1 near its rear end.- It will therefore, be seen that with this A, and thence over suitably arrangement, rotation of the drum will cause the cable to slack up on one side and pull on the other, causing a turnin movement of the frame 1 to take place about its pivotal axis 6. The drum 20 is also driven by areversible electric motor 21 mounted on,

the frame 3. (See Fig. 2.)

Mounted in the frame 3 between the front end thereof and the wheels 4 is the scraping and dirt carrying structure. This comprises a horizontal, load carrying structure A of certain length, .rigidly fixed in the frame 3, and which is made up of a horizontal surface 22 having a scraping blade 23 extending transversely at its forward end, and side walls 24. This structure'is' the first to be discharged and the last to be loaded. v e

Slidably mounted in the frame 3 are additional load-carrying members, preferably four in number, and designated as B, C, D, & E. These each comprise floor members Y25 and side walls 26, said members B to E be ing arranged to telescope into each other in the sequence named, so that their floors lie in superimposed order on the surface 22 as shown in Fig. 6, or to be extended or drawn -At the rear endsof, and under, the memb'ersB to E are transverse stifi'en'ing beams 29, which also serveas stops 'to limit the telescoping movement of said members .on

each other 7 These beams, at their tran sverse ends,

carry rollers 30 (s'ee Fig. 8) which ride ontrack means 31 provided on the -frame 3, thereby lessening the friction of' horizontal movement of :the dirt supporting members.

I Between adjacent beams 29 are mounted chains 32 or other flexible members, for the purpose of hmiting the extending movement of the supporting surfaces relative to each other, v f

Horizontal movement is imparted to the members '13, 0, 1), & E, to cause them to telescope or to be extended, bymeans of cables 33, wound aboutdrums 34-mountedf on the vframe 3, behind the plane of the.

load structure E'when full'yextended. The rear. ends-of these cables are attached to the rear face of the endvgate '27, while the forward ends-.--'ar'e attachedyto the forward face of said-end gate, extending thence forwardly'to the forward and 'fix'ed structure means 35 to the drums. Shock -absorbing located pulley 1 tion or spread of the arms 41 and'43 on.

springs 36 are preferably interposed in the cables at suitable points' The drums 34 are driven through the medium of a reversible electric motor 37, mounted on the frame 3.

Individual controllers for the different motors are mounted at a suitable location on top of the framework 3,as shown at 38,

there being a seat 39 for an operator ar- It will therefore be seen that'the entire operation of the-machine, including load.- ing, dumping, travelling and steering, ma be all attended to by a sin le operator, wit but negligible physical e ort on, his part being necessary, and being positioned on top of the machine, he has a commanding view of the entire situation.

In order to insure'that the telescoping structures will move evenly, and without any tendency to bind laterally, I provide .over each such a structure a rigid trans-1 verse shaft 40, to the ends of which are fixed rigid arms 41 which extend to pivotali connections with the rear ends of, the sides of adjacent andforwardly lying structure.

In other words, the arm' 41 from the shaft- 40 above-the structure-E is connected to the rearend of the structure D; that from the shaft above the structure D is'connected to the structureO, and soon. Turnable on-theshafts 40 are ri id sleeves 42, to the ends of which are fixe arms 43', which 'ex.--

tend to pivotal connections with the rear ends of the sides of the telescopic structures above which the corresponding sleeves are located. I a

In other words, the arms 43 from .the

sleeve 42 above the structure E is connected to the rear end'of thelatter; those from the sleeve above the structurerD are iconnected to the latter adjacent the connec tion of the arms 41 therewith, and so on.

Vith this arrangementftherefore, the distance which the structure E moves in .or

out of the structure D for instance, must be the same on both sides, since the .co'ntrac one side, and which are. connected to both "structures D and E, must be the same. as t the contractionor spread of the corresponding arms on the other s de, 'slnce each pair of-arms, with its connecting member, forms a rigid unit.

' ing catch means for preventing. undesired extending movement of the load-carrying .of the structure B. arms 41 and 430f the structure O are con- I have also provided automatically actr structures when telescoped, without depending on the pull on the cables 33 to hold them in such position. These catches are at present only applied to hold the unit B from moving away from the fixed unit A, and also to independently hold the unit D from moving away from the unit A.

The .first named catch device comprises a horizontal and notched latch bar 44 pivotedon each side member of the unit A and facing toward the unit B. On each of the arms 43 attached to'the latter is 2. lug or pin 45 adapted to aline with the notch of.

the latch bar only when said arm 43 and the cooperating arm 41 are in their contracted positions, which is when the structures A andB are fully telescoped into each other. f

On eachof thea'djacent arms connected to the structure B is a trip arm 46, arranged to engage and raise the bar 44 clearof the pin 45 as long as saidarm 41 is in its expanded or'substantially horizontal position, which is when the structure C.- i s drawn out -When however the tracted or drawn together with-the telescoping of the structure G into the structure B, the tri arm is lowered clear of the latch bar 44, allowing the latter to drop ,onto and engage the'pin 45,, and the latter will not then be released until the structure v(1 isaga'in moved'out of and away from the'structure B. This'catch structure isxparticularly illustrated in, Figs. 9 and 10. The other catch structure, particularly illustrated in Figs.'4, and 5,.iss'ubstantially the same in general construction and operation asthat just described.

.It comprises a horizontal and notched catch bar--47 pivoted on each; side of the dirt carrying structure on an extension 3? of thefr'ame- 3, or on any otherfixed member found suitable.

"This latch bar faicestoward the rear, and "its notch is arranged, to receive a lug or pin 48 fixed on the sideme'mber of the unit D when the latter is telescoped 'into the unit 0. Until the unit E is telescoped into the unit D however the latch bar 47 is held from engagement with the pin 48 by a trip arm 49 fixed. on and projecting from that arm 41 which is attached to the unit D.

In other words, as long assaid arm and the cooperating arm" 43 are expanded, as when the unitE is drawn out ofthe'unit D, the bar 47 will not engage the pin 48 but as. soon as said arms have moved together a certain distance with the telescoping of the unit'E into-the unit D, the

arm 48 moves clearof the bar 47, allowing.

thelatter to engage the pin 48.

. The operation of the machine is as follows: v

Assuming to' start that. the scraper is most suplporting surface, which is that of the unit The gate 27 having been first swung back to abut against the rear stop 28, the floor surface of said unit E is clear for the reception of the dirt. When'this surface has been loaded, the operator will cause a rearward pull to be exerted onthe lower runs of the cables 33, drawing the unit E rearwardly, and exposing the floor surface of the adjacent unit D for loadin This withdrawal of the unit Eis preferzilily not carried out to its full extent at one time, but gradually and as the unit D is loaded. that the pile of dirt will be in the form of a solid and level mass, rather than as a series of peaked or ridged piles, as would-otherwise be the case.

\Vhcn the unit E has been withdrawn until the connecting chains 32 are taut,'thecatches 47, up to this time holding the unit D against movement, are automatically re leased in the manner previously described.

This allows the unit D to be moved rearwardly to clearthe unit/C, and so on until all the units form a continuous and level floor, loaded from one end to the other. The blade 23 is then raised from the ground by pulling up on the sleeve 5, and the machine may the load is to be dumped.

To dumpthe load, the manipulation of the dirt carrying unitsis the reverse of that had with the loading operation. I y

A forward pulling. strain is imparted to thelower runs of the cables 33, tending to cause the end gate 27 to move forw'ardly from the rear to the front stop'means 28.

Such movement will notlikely be had at this time however, since the entire mass of dirt from end to end of the structure, is resisting the same. Any movement will take place where there is the least resistance, which will be between the units Band A, since to move the former. onto the latter, only the relatively small load in the unit A has to shifted forwardly and dumped.

Each unit will thus be telescoped in order, from the fixed unit A back to the unit E. Whenthe latter has moved onto the unit D,

the end gate will then move forwardly,

clearing said unit E of dirt, since the previous resistance to such movement has been removed.

This insures then be transported to the placewhere When this last movement has taken place, the scraper is empty, and loading operations may then be again carried out, after moving the end gate to its rearward position, as previously stated.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

lVhile this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention as set forth herein.

-Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and useful and desire to se-- cure by Letters Patent is:

1. A scraper including a frame, and a plurality. of dirt-supporting units mounted therein for horizontal telescoping and exmovement,and an endgate mounted in the rearmost unit and movable to clear the floor of'the same of any load of dirt thereon.

4. A scraper including a frame, a plurality of dirt-supporting units mounted therein for horizontal telescoping and extending movement, and means for limiting the telescopic or extended movement of the units relative to each other.

5. A scraper including a frame, a plurality of dirt-supporting units mounted thereinfor horizontal telescopifigand extending movement, means for imparting such movement, and means causing the-units to be positively held intransverse alinement with each other, thereby preventing any binding therebetween.

6. A scraper including a frame, a plurality of dirt-supporting units mounted therein for horizontal telescoping and extending movement, means for imparting such movement, rigid transverse shafts over the individual units, arms fixed thereon and pivotally secured to the-rear endsof adjacent units, sleeves turnable on said shafts,

and arms fixed on said sleeves and pivotally secured to the rear ends of the units under the corresponding sleeves. I

A scraper including a frame, a plurality of dirt-supporting units mounted therein for horizontal telescoping and ex- 1v released as adjacent units are moved to automatically releasing the latteras said adthe endgate in both directions.

"tending movement to their extended positions.

8. A scraper includinga frame, a plurality of dirt-supporting units mounted therein for horizontal telescoping and ex- ;tending movement, catch means holding certain of the units immovable relativetothe frame when said units are telescoped, and means mounted in connection with the units adjacent to those engaged by the catches for jacent units move to their extended positions. 9. A scraper including a frame, a plurality of dirt-supporting 'units mounted therein for horizontal telescoping and extending movement, an 'endgate pivotally mounted in the rearmost unit and arranged for limited movement, and horizontally extending pull cables attached to both faces of the gate.

10. A scraper including a frame, a plu rality of dirt-supporting units mounted therein for horizontal telescoping and ex tending movement, an endgate pivotallymounted in the rearmost unit and arranged for limited movement, horizoi'itally extend ing pull cables attached to both faces of the gate, and means mounted on ,the frame for pulling the cables in either direction.

11. A scraper including a frame, a plu rality of dirt-supporting units mounted therein for horizontaltelescoping and extending movement, an endgate pivotally mounted in the rearmost unit and arranged for limited movement, and means for exerting horizontal and longitudinal pressure on 12. A scraper including a frame, a plu rality of dirt-supporting units mounted therein for horizontal telescoping and ex tending movement, an endgateImounted in the rearmost unit, means for applying horizontal and longitudinal pressure to the end gate in both directions, and meanswhereby such pressure will cause telescopic or exunits.

dirt-carrying units having horizontal floors, means whereby dirt maybe loaded onto each unit in turn from the forwardend of the scraper, and means whereby such dirt may be discharged from said front end without tiltingthe floors upwardly.

be imparted to the a t structure,individual control means for said 13QA scraper. including a plurality of 1A. A scraping structure comprising a scraping unit, a drivingstructure connected to said unit at one end thereof, a common means for permanently connecting said structure and unit'to enable the adjacentend of the unit to be raised and lowered and to enable relative turning movement between:

said unit and structure being had, power means for controlling the raising and lowering movement, independent power means for controlling the turning movement, andmovable scraping structure in the frame, independent power means for driving the wheels, manipulating the scraping structure and controlling the steering of the steerable structure ;I and individual control means for all said power means mounted on the frame in centralized relation to each other.

1 6. A scraping apparatus comprising a wheel-supported frame, a steerable wheel structure connected to the frame, a relatively movable scraping structure in the frame, and independent power unltsfor turning the wheels, manipulating the scraping structure and controlling tliesteering of the steerable structure.

173A scraping apparatus comprising a wl'ieel-supportedframe, a. steerable wheel structure connected to the frame, a relatively novable scraping structure in the frame, independent power units for turning the wheels, manipulating the scraping structure and controlling the steering of the steerable structure, and a. common source of power for all said units carried bytheapparatus.

18. A scraping apparatus comprising a wheel-supported frame,-a steerable wheel structure connected to'the' frame, a'relatively movable scraping structure in the frame,

independent electric motors for turning the wheels manipulating the scraping structure ice and controlling the steering of the steerable noenn'r e. LE rotisserie. 

